“Great photography is not about having the best camera – it is about finding the best angle to tell the truth of your subject.” – MJ Martin
In photography, the angle from which a subject is captured often makes the difference between an ordinary image and a compelling one. Whether you are shooting a dog at play, a majestic mountain range, or a candid portrait, your camera angle and the distance to your subject deeply influence the emotional impact and clarity of your shot. While exposure, composition, and lighting are all critical, it is the photographer’s choice of viewpoint that often defines the story an image tells.
Shooting from eye level is a natural place to start, but it is not always the best angle. For example, when photographing dogs, lowering the camera to their eye level helps create a more intimate and engaging shot. This perspective respects the animal’s world and allows the viewer to connect emotionally. Shooting from above may give a sense of cuteness or vulnerability, while a low angle can make even the smallest pup appear bold and heroic. The key is to match the angle with the mood you want to convey.
A Portrait from below the eye line
Portrait photography also demands thoughtful use of angles and distance. A slightly elevated angle can slim the face and emphasize the eyes, while a low angle may create a feeling of power or dominance. Shooting straight-on offers honesty and symmetry, ideal for formal or character-revealing portraits. Distance is equally critical – too close with a wide lens, and distortion becomes an issue; too far, and you lose the intimacy. The classic portrait range of 85–135mm (on full-frame cameras) strikes a natural balance between flattering perspective and visual separation from the background.
When capturing landscapes, the angle of view influences not just the foreground but how the entire scene is composed. Shooting from a high vantage point can reveal sweeping vistas and geometric patterns, especially in urban or mountainous settings. Getting low to the ground brings attention to textures and can add dramatic foreground interest – a rock, a puddle, a flower. The distance to your main subject should guide your lens choice and composition: wide angles expand space and emphasize depth, while telephoto lenses compress scenes and isolate features like distant peaks or trees.
Every genre of photography benefits from asking two simple questions: Where should I be standing? and How high or low should the camera be? These choices shape perspective, depth, and emotional tone. Often, beginners forget to physically move – kneel, lie down, climb, or simply step back – and miss out on more powerful compositions.
Ultimately, the best angle is the one that serves your subject and your story. Photography is about interpreting reality, not just recording it. By mastering perspective and thoughtfully adjusting your distance and angle, you gain more control over how your viewer feels – and what they see. As photographer David Alan Harvey once said, “Don’t shoot what it looks like. Shoot what it feels like.”
About the Author:
Michael Martin is the Vice President of Technology with Metercor Inc., a Smart Meter, IoT, and Smart City systems integrator based in Canada. He has more than 40 years of experience in systems design for applications that use broadband networks, optical fibre, wireless, and digital communications technologies. He is a business and technology consultant. He was a senior executive consultant for 15 years with IBM, where he worked in the GBS Global Center of Competency for Energy and Utilities and the GTS Global Center of Excellence for Energy and Utilities. He is a founding partner and President of MICAN Communications and before that was President of Comlink Systems Limited and Ensat Broadcast Services, Inc., both divisions of Cygnal Technologies Corporation (CYN: TSX).
Martin served on the Board of Directors for TeraGo Inc (TGO: TSX) and on the Board of Directors for Avante Logixx Inc. (XX: TSX.V). He has served as a Member, SCC ISO-IEC JTC 1/SC-41 – Internet of Things and related technologies, ISO – International Organization for Standardization, and as a member of the NIST SP 500-325 Fog Computing Conceptual Model, National Institute of Standards and Technology. He served on the Board of Governors of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) [now Ontario Tech University] and on the Board of Advisers of five different Colleges in Ontario – Centennial College, Humber College, George Brown College, Durham College, Ryerson Polytechnic University [now Toronto Metropolitan University]. For 16 years he served on the Board of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), Toronto Section.
He holds three master’s degrees, in business (MBA), communication (MA), and education (MEd). As well, he has three undergraduate diplomas and seven certifications in business, computer programming, internetworking, project management, media, photography, and communication technology. He has completed over 50 next generation MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses) continuous education in a wide variety of topics, including: Economics, Python Programming, Internet of Things, Cloud, Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive systems, Blockchain, Agile, Big Data, Design Thinking, Security, Indigenous Canada awareness, and more.